Did you realize, this week, that nothing’s getting fixed soon? Did you realize, this week, that things are seriously awry in The Village? Did you realize, this week, that allies inside the Beltway — those we had counted on in our fight to reclaim the levers of government — might not be such great allies after all?

I did.

This week, I re-learned the meaning of The Long Haul. This week, I learned that changes we want to implement won’t occur with just one more spasm of BlueAmerica success accompanied by the election of a Democratic President in 2008. We are not building a movement to succeed in fourteen short months in removing all the vestiges of authoritarianism and fascism from our shores. Not when students and preachers are marching, this week, in Louisiana, to free a young man from a justice system that’s simply racist and wrong.

We are building a movement that will need to last generations. We must build our movement strong and hardy, to pass down to Americans just born and not-even-born. We must broaden our movement, to ensure we have alliances across generations, across race, across workplaces, across genderand faith.

Why? Why won’t our progressive movement succeed immediately? Why must we create and nurture a people-powered movement that is national in scope and rich in hue? Why must children today be engaged and taught that our country belongs to the people, and the people always have a voice in how our country acts? Why can’t we just put all our effort into the 2008 election and hope for the best?

For one reason, because these United States Senators (who voted for all of us to sit down and shut up!) will be in office until at least January 2013 — when our next President is inaugurated for a second term or our next President’s successor is inaugurated:

Every single one of these United States Senators was just elected in November 2006. Each one of them voted for us to sit down and shut up. Do you think their views will be radically changed by the election of more BlueAmericans to the House of Representatives in 2008, or by the election of a Democratic President? I don’t. I think we learned their true colors, especially with regard to the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech: sit down and shut up. So, in five years, in November 2012, we will have an opportunity to rid ourselves of the last of the sit-down-and-shut-up caucus in the United States Senate.

Or — they will have had five long years to redeem themselves in our eyes.

Will that signal complete victory for our movement? Will that mean we have succeeded? Is that when The Long Haul ends victoriously? Or will that simply mean we can then Stand Up and Shout? I believe The Long Haul actually begins when we have a national legislature unafraid to stand up for free speech, unafraid to stand up for habeas corpus, unafraid to stand up for troop respite, unafraid to challenge the unitary executive, unafraid to stop election-stealing, unafraid to say that spying in America, on Americans, is wrong and must stop, unafraid to challenge the racism of our justice system. Only when the Senate is purged of the sit-down-and-shut-up caucus can The Long Haul begin. As long as there are Senators who voted for American citizens to sit down and shut up serving in the United States Senate, our work cannot truly begin.

Because the work of The Long Haul is all about Standing Up and Shouting Aloud: this is the People-Powered Movement, and we’re here to take back our country. So, teach your children well. Educate a niece or nephew. Be sure a Scout troop gets the correct civics lesson for its merit badges. Become a Big Brother or a Big Sister — and help your protege understand what makes our country work: People Power.

We’re in it for The Long Haul. And The Long Haul hasn’t even really started yet — these are just our First Throes.

Evening all. Great post Teddy. I for one have never been very good at sitting down and shutting up. Do not intend to start now. I am also an Okie. We have long memories and are strong believers in the big payback.

One of the main purposes of NCLB is to make sure people don’t learn to analyze and judge. Rote, fill in the blank, have the right answer. I’m convinced this is a huge part of the “educational” initiative.

But the buzz emanating from its famous trading floor is dying down as computerized trading has rapidly reduced the need for face-to-face transactions. In the next several weeks, the exchange plans to shut two trading rooms that were added decades ago, when its status as the place to buy and sell stocks was unchallenged.

When the latest retreat is complete, the exchange floor will be half the size it was at its peak. The “crowd” — the brokers and clerks on the floor — has dwindled to about 1,700 from a high of more than 3,000. Before the exchange became a public company in 2005, its members controlled 1,366 seats, or licenses to trade. Now, about 800 brokers pay the annual $50,000 fee for a license.

I’ve been watching this happening over the past two years. The traffic at Rector Street is less than half of what it was three years ago. The folks at Wall Street are increasingly service people, and longtime friends who were pretty far up there have taken jobs at half their salaries and have been shoved in to ‘back office’ operations. Folks who were once on the floor are qualifying leads and training their replacements.

This was the engine of New York’s economy, and it’s vanishing like smoke. I don’t know what they’re gonna fill the Freedom Tower with. South of Tribecca is becoming a ghost town.

“As far as the claim that he was beaten, I will tell you that he looks fine to me,” said Judge Mukasey, who was nominated by President Bush last week to be his third attorney general and is now facing Senate confirmation hearings. “You want to have him examined, you can make an application. If you want to file a lawsuit, you can file a civil lawsuit.”

Even though Mr. Awadallah was not charged at the time with any crime and had friends and family in San Diego who would vouch that he had no terrorist ties, Judge Mukasey ordered that he be held indefinitely, a ruling he made in the cases of several other so-called material witnesses in the Sept. 11 investigations. A prison medical examination later identified the bruises across his body.

Judge Mukasey’s comments at the 2001 hearing were revealed in a once-secret 16-page transcript provided to The New York Times by a lawyer for Mr. Awadallah.

One of the things I am not shutting up about is Hurricane Rita. It hit here in Texas and it is still not cleaned up. I wrote about that today. here is part of it:

e have to look at a new article in the Austin American Statesman that indicates that “In the two years since Hurricane Rita struck Texas, records show that the state has spent less than 1 percent of the federal money allotted to fix or replace thousands of ruined homes.”

One of the things I am not shutting up about is Hurricane Rita. It hit here in Texas and it is still not cleaned up. I wrote about that today. here is part of it:

e have to look at a new article in the Austin American Statesman that indicates that “In the two years since Hurricane Rita struck Texas, records show that the state has spent less than 1 percent of the federal money allotted to fix or replace thousands of ruined homes.”

Actually, it’s becoming a residential neighborhood. Was inevitable. The buildings down there are not suited for current computer and communications technology, either for trading or back-office. Easier and cheaper to move the traders to Midtown and the back office to Jersey City.

It was very encouraging to meet Sam Bennet, the Blue America candidate here yesterday.
We have to have more and better politicians.
Replace the disappointing ones one at a time.
When I signed the MoveOn petition, I sent a note to D. Feinstein that we are watching every vote. Told her that she better pay attention and that her base in California is shrinking, shrinking, shrinking.

Since we’re not supposed to talk about Major League Baseball any more, I will talk instead about Major League Fuckery. In tonight’s episode, an Army contracting officer is accused of taking almost ten million dollars in bribes.

One of the things I am not shutting up about is Hurricane Rita. It hit here in Texas and it is still not cleaned up. I wrote about that today. here is part of it:

This is unfortunately typical of Republican (mal)governance.

Welcome to our world, here in “still waiting for funds” Louisiana. The Road Home program will be out of money by the end of the month with an estimated 2-3Billion more needed. Think DC’s gonna pony up? This is all nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy, making government so incompetent so they can stand up and say “see? we told you the government was broken!”

Since we’re not supposed to talk about Major League Baseball any more, I will talk instead about Major League Fuckery. In tonight’s episode, an Army contracting officer is accused of taking almost ten million dollars in bribes.

Actually, it’s becoming a residential neighborhood. Was inevitable. The buildings down there are not suited for current computer and communications technology, either for trading or back-office. Easier and cheaper to move the traders to Midtown and the back office to Jersey City.

I love seeing the residential growth of the area, but as I said, up till now, it’s been a huge percentage of the State and City economies. Also, just look at how little of existing structure is suitable for housing stock in a real estate market that will be depressed for years to come.

it’s going to be entertaining in a couple of years when our fair weather friends want us to help them get re-elected. very entertaining. May I simply say, to all my friends who think I should sit down and shut up, “Suck my motherfuckin’ DICK.”

John Tester and Jim Webb who I phone banked for? that goes double for you. and don’t forget the taint.

Great post TSF! As demoralizing as this past week has been it is important to try to step back and see the bigger picture. I believe it will be a journey of some forward, some backward, but we must keep pushing forward. The alternative is too horrific to contemplate.

Welcome to our world, here in “still waiting for funds” Louisiana. The Road Home program will be out of money by the end of the month with an estimated 2-3Billion more needed. Think DC’s gonna pony up? This is all nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy, making government so incompetent so they can stand up and say “see? we told you the government was broken!”

Sorry to hear it madmommy. That whole thing really pisses me off, though it is entirely typical. Screw the regular people so you can shovel money to your uber wealthy friends. These people really are a criminal enterprise and nobody with power seems to be holding them accounable

I’d call for DiFi’s resignation, but, unfortunately, we have a rethug governor, and I think I know who he’d appoint. And that’s just plain scary to contemplate.. so, unfortunately, we have DiFi. Not representing us.

it’s going to be entertaining in a couple of years when our fair weather friends want us to help them get re-elected. very entertaining. May I simply say, to all my friends who think I should sit down and shut up, “Suck my motherfuckin’ DICK.”

John Tester and Jim Webb who I phone banked for? that goes double for you. and don’t forget the taint.

What we need to do, though, is make sure there’s viable candidates, and not handpicked successors, or no one (and the seat off to a republican), either…

Actually, it’s becoming a residential neighborhood. Was inevitable. The buildings down there are not suited for current computer and communications technology, either for trading or back-office. Easier and cheaper to move the traders to Midtown and the back office to Jersey City.

I love seeing the residential growth of the area, but as I said, up till now, it’s been a huge percentage of the State and City economies. Also, just look at how little of existing structure is suitable for housing stock in a real estate market that will be depressed for years to come.

I suspect that in the near term more and more of that back office work will be offshored to India.

“As far as the claim that he was beaten, I will tell you that he looks fine to me,” said Judge Mukasey, who was nominated by President Bush last week to be his third attorney general and is now facing Senate confirmation hearings. “You want to have him examined, you can make an application. If you want to file a lawsuit, you can file a civil lawsuit.”

Even though Mr. Awadallah was not charged at the time with any crime and had friends and family in San Diego who would vouch that he had no terrorist ties, Judge Mukasey ordered that he be held indefinitely, a ruling he made in the cases of several other so-called material witnesses in the Sept. 11 investigations. A prison medical examination later identified the bruises across his body.

Judge Mukasey’s comments at the 2001 hearing were revealed in a once-secret 16-page transcript provided to The New York Times by a lawyer for Mr. Awadallah.

All the Dems want is a warm body that will satisfy Bush. They have already thrown in the towel on the US Attorney’s scandal, and all they want is for us to shut up and quit harassing them. None of them are bothered a bit by the politicized DOJ. It just does not matter to them. The contempt of congress issue is an embarrassment they want to go away quickly. I just don’t believe that any of them see any great problem with the status quo. They are shortsighted, incurious fools with no leaders and definitely no statesmen. The whole bunch need to be voted out of office and made to work for a living.

Well my classmates will be voting in 2009 or 2010. Get more of us interested.

YOu are a great inspiration.

But nobody TALKS to us about politics. There’s a zillion kinds of camps where I live, but I never heard of anyone going to a political one. Or after school clubs. Or meet-the-author. Politics ignores US.

Welcome to our world, here in “still waiting for funds” Louisiana. The Road Home program will be out of money by the end of the month with an estimated 2-3Billion more needed. Think DC’s gonna pony up? This is all nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy, making government so incompetent so they can stand up and say “see? we told you the government was broken!”

Teddy! Love your post and I love Crosby Stills & Nash! Now do you have any suggestions about what to do to adjust the Senator’s attitude? I figure they’ve had plenty of time to consider the freedom of political speech issue, so what possible excuse can Hillary have for this morning. And we thought she got it right! That’s why I am so leery of a presidency with her. Just when you think it’s safe to go back…

Great post TSF! As demoralizing as this past week has been it is important to try to step back and see the bigger picture. I believe it will be a journey of some forward, some backward, but we must keep pushing forward. The alternative is too horrific to contemplate.

Backward lies the abyss they would have us occupy for all time. We must persevere.

it’s going to be entertaining in a couple of years when our fair weather friends want us to help them get re-elected. very entertaining. May I simply say, to all my friends who think I should sit down and shut up, “Suck my motherfuckin’ DICK.”

John Tester and Jim Webb who I phone banked for? that goes double for you. and don’t forget the taint.

Think you feel bad? I campaigned and voted for Tester. Had great hopes and then he pulls this BS. I have been very disappointed in his votes lately and he knows it.

Welcome to our world, here in “still waiting for funds” Louisiana. The Road Home program will be out of money by the end of the month with an estimated 2-3Billion more needed. Think DC’s gonna pony up? This is all nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy, making government so incompetent so they can stand up and say “see? we told you the government was broken!”

Sorry to hear it madmommy. That whole thing really pisses me off, though it is entirely typical. Screw the regular people so you can shovel money to your uber wealthy friends. These people really are a criminal enterprise and nobody with power seems to be holding them accounable

But nobody TALKS to us about politics. There’s a zillion kinds of camps where I live, but I never heard of anyone going to a political one. Or after school clubs. Or meet-the-author. Politics ignores US.

Good point. What do you think would work? Newspapers? How would you do the camps? What keeps kids from doing what you do ;-) and going on line? What else?

Teddy! Love your post and I love Crosby Stills & Nash! Now do you have any suggestions about what to do to adjust the Senator’s attitude? I figure they’ve had plenty of time to consider the freedom of political speech issue, so what possible excuse can Hillary have for this morning. And we thought she got it right! That’s why I am so leery of a presidency with her. Just when you think it’s safe to go back…

Hillary has convinced me that the triangulating we criticized Bill for may have been largely her doing. She voted against the Cornyn amendment, setting us back on our heels — “what?!?” was the blogosphere’s reaction — and then went on five Sunday gabfests as her old warmongering self. It’s a delicate balancing act, and she is very good at it.

Does anybody remember the last time someone got to go on all five Sunday gabfests the same day?

Sorry to hear it madmommy. That whole thing really pisses me off, though it is entirely typical. Screw the regular people so you can shovel money to your uber wealthy friends. These people really are a criminal enterprise and nobody with power seems to be holding them accounable

But nobody TALKS to us about politics. There’s a zillion kinds of camps where I live, but I never heard of anyone going to a political one. Or after school clubs. Or meet-the-author. Politics ignores US.

I think parents need to have their feet held to the fire on this one, but wonder how many parents feel that they might not be able to answer a child’s questions because they don’t understand well enough. Kind of like “Why is the sky blue?” How would you explain politics without giving your kid the message that it’s not worth caring?

I’ve been thinking along these same lines, Teddy. There’s a wonderful new book out, “My Life in France” by Julia Child and Alex Prud’homme. It’s not a cookbook, but a detailed description of life in post war France when she had her husband, Paul, moved to Paris. They lives there many years. She learned to cook while there, and loved France, but she was astonished anyone in the states would put up with someone like Eugene McCarthy. She thought he was awful.

Her father was a conservative and complained regularly about “New Dealers” and liberals. Nothing has changed! He even claimed Julia couldn’t really understand what was going on in the states because “all her news was slanted.”

It’s sad but enlightening. We will always have to battle the forces of selfishness and greed. The important thing is, we’re smarter and better than them. And we’re a hell of a lot smarter, too!

The book is mostly about food and learning new languages, and writing cookbooks. I picked it to be a distraction from politics and current events, and it was, but it was also a reminder that no one event, fundraiser or election will be the end. We’re running a relay race, started by the founding fathers. We have to do our part and then pass the baton to the next generation.

TeddySanFran, I’m afraid you are right. This depresses the shit out of me, but I can’t argue with it. Also, once the new broom sweeps clean, the stables will have to be mucked out again and again and again and…well, forever. Which is partly – perhaps largely – how we got to where we are now. Also depressing to have to admit.

Great post TSF! As demoralizing as this past week has been it is important to try to step back and see the bigger picture. I believe it will be a journey of some forward, some backward, but we must keep pushing forward. The alternative is too horrific to contemplate.

Backward lies the abyss they would have us occupy for all time. We must persevere.

Absolutely. I have been fighting many of these battles for close to 40 years. It comes and goes, but we have made some progress over that time. America really is a better place than the one I grew up in, though we still have so far to go. Where we have lost ground, it is because we became complacent and too lazy to fight. We can never rest in this battle, because the forces of oppression and autocracy will not rest until they control everything. That we cannot allow to happen.

Teddy! Love your post and I love Crosby Stills & Nash! Now do you have any suggestions about what to do to adjust the Senator’s attitude? I figure they’ve had plenty of time to consider the freedom of political speech issue, so what possible excuse can Hillary have for this morning. And we thought she got it right! That’s why I am so leery of a presidency with her. Just when you think it’s safe to go back…

Hillary has convinced me that the triangulating we criticized Bill for may have been largely her doing. She voted against the Cornyn amendment, setting us back on our heels — “what?!?” was the blogosphere’s reaction — and then went on five Sunday gabfests as her old warmongering self. It’s a delicate balancing act, and she is very good at it.

Does anybody remember the last time someone got to go on all five Sunday gabfests the same day?

I have quit watching them as it tends to increase my B/P to dangerous levels. How would one manage the logistics? Did she do them all from a remote location or go live on set for each? My abject thanks to all who can stomach these shows and let us know what happened.

Teddy! Love your post and I love Crosby Stills & Nash! Now do you have any suggestions about what to do to adjust the Senator’s attitude? I figure they’ve had plenty of time to consider the freedom of political speech issue, so what possible excuse can Hillary have for this morning. And we thought she got it right! That’s why I am so leery of a presidency with her. Just when you think it’s safe to go back…

Hillary has convinced me that the triangulating we criticized Bill for may have been largely her doing. She voted against the Cornyn amendment, setting us back on our heels — “what?!?” was the blogosphere’s reaction — and then went on five Sunday gabfests as her old warmongering self. It’s a delicate balancing act, and she is very good at it.

Does anybody remember the last time someone got to go on all five Sunday gabfests the same day?

Did she really get a fiver? What a media whore. I swear I’m so disappointed in her, I had such high hopes for having a woman in the Presidency, but I can’t trust her.

But nobody TALKS to us about politics. There’s a zillion kinds of camps where I live, but I never heard of anyone going to a political one. Or after school clubs. Or meet-the-author. Politics ignores US.

Good point. What do you think would work? Newspapers? How would you do the camps? What keeps kids from doing what you do ;-) and going on line? What else?

Just like the science and chess camps, but make it cheaper so that kids from all different families can go. Politics stories on channel one at school. Anything that happens more than one week every four years. Have the school library have the books we talk about here, and have the posters up at school when someone from one of the books is talking at a book store in Austin or Dallas or Houston. Like they do when it is a different kind of writer.

I got involved in politics cause my brother was about to go to Iraq, That’s kinda extreme. I stayed cause I like the people.

Steve-AR @20
just was skimming by before going to bed–Have been off the toobz all day. Thanks for the headsup. Reading that whole piece was just sickening.
What can we do to keep “our” Dems from approving this guy? Write to Leahy? My own senators – Cornyn and Hutchison– obviously won’t care about my objections.

Since we’re not supposed to talk about Major League Baseball any more, I will talk instead about Major League Fuckery. In tonight’s episode, an Army contracting officer is accused of taking almost ten million dollars in bribes.

And here’s an absurd part of the article:“It is particularly disturbing that while so many of our military personnel are fighting and dying in Iraq, a few have apparently taken the opportunity to unlawfully enrich themselves,” Charles W. Beardall, chief criminal investigator for the Pentagon inspector general, said in a statement. “Their greed is unconscionable, especially in the midst of our soldiers’ heroic actions.”

A few have taken the opportunity to unlawfully enrich themselves. Blackwater, anyone? How about the good folks at Halliburton?

Good point. What do you think would work? Newspapers? How would you do the camps? What keeps kids from doing what you do ;-) and going on line? What else?

Just like the science and chess camps, but make it cheaper so that kids from all different families can go. Politics stories on channel one at school. Anything that happens more than one week every four years. Have the school library have the books we talk about here, and have the posters up at school when someone from one of the books is talking at a book store in Austin or Dallas or Houston. Like they do when it is a different kind of writer.

I got involved in politics cause my brother was about to go to Iraq, That’s kinda extreme. I stayed cause I like the people.

What about something like the College Democrats aimed at high school students? Have local politicians and leaders come in and talk about issues and policies and how these affect the students’ lives. Get kids involved in campaigns.

Teddy, thanks for the great post. This is so true. It is going to take a long time to get our country back and we have to have the fortitude to settle in for the long haul. Just because it’s not easy and quick does not give us the excuse to throw up our hands and give up.

We may not see progress in our lifetime. We are up against a powerful adversary. But that does not excuse us for continuing to fight for what we know is right. What kind of activism is it if we only work at it if we’re guaranteed immediate results? This is something I’ve been very concerned about and I’m glad you’re talkking about it.

I am from MN and I let Amy Klobuchar know what I think of a US Senator voting against free speech. I also let her know that I won’t be making any more phone calls asking people to vote for her. My time and money will be going to MoveOn. Actually, Franken may get some. I think he may have voted differently. Would be interesting to hear what he thinks about it.

Since we’re not supposed to talk about Major League Baseball any more, I will talk instead about Major League Fuckery. In tonight’s episode, an Army contracting officer is accused of taking almost ten million dollars in bribes.

And here’s an absurd part of the article:“It is particularly disturbing that while so many of our military personnel are fighting and dying in Iraq, a few have apparently taken the opportunity to unlawfully enrich themselves,” Charles W. Beardall, chief criminal investigator for the Pentagon inspector general, said in a statement. “Their greed is unconscionable, especially in the midst of our soldiers’ heroic actions.”

A few have taken the opportunity to unlawfully enrich themselves. Blackwater, anyone? How about the good folks at Halliburton?

Well, Loo Hoo if you wanted to you could make a list as long as your arm of those who chose to”unlawfully enrich themselves”. Sadly, the only ones who will be punished are the individuals, not the systemic, widespread, corporate war profiteering. Typical

Teddy, thanks for the great post. This is so true. It is going to take a long time to get our country back and we have to have the fortitude to settle in for the long haul. Just because it’s not easy and quick does not give us the excuse to throw up our hands and give up.

We may not see progress in our lifetime. We are up against a powerful adversary. But that does not excuse us for continuing to fight for what we know is right. What kind of activism is it if we only work at it if we’re guaranteed immediate results? This is something I’ve been very concerned about and I’m glad you’re talkking about it.

I’m going to Stand Up and Shout regardless of the response.

Hey Alicia. You here in the Big Sky now? Sorry about the shitty weather (though it helps knock back the fires).

I’d call for DiFi’s resignation, but, unfortunately, we have a rethug governor, and I think I know who he’d appoint. And that’s just plain scary to contemplate.. so, unfortunately, we have DiFi. Not representing us.

I just listened to Hillary’s statement on the war on the nooz. I don’t think that she said exactly what she was kind of accused of saying here, earlier. She said that she will bring the troops home as “quickly and responsibly as I can” but would not rule out leaving behind some trainers and counter-insurgency units through her first term. This is about as strong of a statement as has come out of major politician to date.. wonky, but strong. maybe it’s not strong enough, I don’t know. But she didn’t say anything about extendng the war, and what she did say sounded a heck of a lot better than the average statement from so-called progressive Dem members of Congress these days.

Fine. Don’t trust her, if that’s what you want to do, and I am not a Hillary fan for the most part, but I don’t think misquoting her is helpful either.

please, please, please do something about the phony Klobuchar. we all know how Bush, pretending to have compassion, was elected under the mantle of compassionate conservative. well the klobuchar used a liberal/populist theme to confuse the electorate. just another Bush dog. but phony to boot.

hah! i wish.. in that case, let’s chase DiFi out now. Oh boy..retiring both DiFi and the governator.. now that would be an achievement. I’m worried he’d appoint somebody unbearable, like his former ed head Bersin.

I have to sleep, as much as I want to stay and chat with you all. May I ask a favor? I used to do this a while ago and found it helped us as well as my folks. could you send a little energy tonight to Heather and to Paul? Heather needs your support in her bereavement and paul needs “It’s okay” thoughts.

For those who don’t know, I’m a hospice nurse and I would sure appreciate it. The collective energy here may not make these fools in congress sit up and take notice (yet) but I have found that it helps my families.

Hi Dr. Dick! I’m your temporary neighbor! I’m just south of Missoula and having a great time with my sister on her ranch.

Uh-oh. You’re down in the Bitterroot of all evil? Watch yourself, that is heavy Republican loonytoon country down there. On the other hand those are some mighty fine mountains. Was thinking about hiking down there today, but the rain killed that idea.

I am from MN and I let Amy Klobuchar know what I think of a US Senator voting against free speech. I also let her know that I won’t be making any more phone calls asking people to vote for her. My time and money will be going to MoveOn. Actually, Franken may get some. I think he may have voted differently. Would be interesting to hear what he thinks about it.

It’s very important to ask how candidates would have voted — and will vote — on this catastrophe. If a candidate would vote against free speech, how could s/he ask for anyone’s vote?

And it’s not a hypothetical, as many will claim in order to evade the question. It will come up again. “How will you vote on free speech?” is a legitimate question nowadays.

Hey Alicia. You here in the Big Sky now? Sorry about the shitty weather (though it helps knock back the fires).

I am. I got in Friday, which was beautiful. I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a million stars, which you never see in LA. Even with the weather, it’s wonderful. I’m helping my sister with her horse chores and working on my book. It’s paradise here.

I have to sleep, as much as I want to stay and chat with you all. May I ask a favor? I used to do this a while ago and found it helped us as well as my folks. could you send a little energy tonight to Heather and to Paul? Heather needs your support in her bereavement and paul needs “It’s okay” thoughts.

For those who don’t know, I’m a hospice nurse and I would sure appreciate it. The collective energy here may not make these fools in congress sit up and take notice (yet) but I have found that it helps my families.

thanks.
namaste
zen

Thanks for returning with these requests, zennie. I have missed them, and you!

I have to sleep, as much as I want to stay and chat with you all. May I ask a favor? I used to do this a while ago and found it helped us as well as my folks. could you send a little energy tonight to Heather and to Paul? Heather needs your support in her bereavement and paul needs “It’s okay” thoughts.

For those who don’t know, I’m a hospice nurse and I would sure appreciate it. The collective energy here may not make these fools in congress sit up and take notice (yet) but I have found that it helps my families.

thanks.
namaste
zen

Absoloutely done! I admire greatly what you do, it is a gift to have hospice care available for patients who wish it.

Teddy! Love your post and I love Crosby Stills & Nash! Now do you have any suggestions about what to do to adjust the Senator’s attitude? I figure they’ve had plenty of time to consider the freedom of political speech issue, so what possible excuse can Hillary have for this morning. And we thought she got it right! That’s why I am so leery of a presidency with her. Just when you think it’s safe to go back…

Hillary has convinced me that the triangulating we criticized Bill for may have been largely her doing. She voted against the Cornyn amendment, setting us back on our heels — “what?!?” was the blogosphere’s reaction — and then went on five Sunday gabfests as her old warmongering self. It’s a delicate balancing act, and she is very good at it.

Does anybody remember the last time someone got to go on all five Sunday gabfests the same day?

Hey Alicia. You here in the Big Sky now? Sorry about the shitty weather (though it helps knock back the fires).

I am. I got in Friday, which was beautiful. I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a million stars, which you never see in LA. Even with the weather, it’s wonderful. I’m helping my sister with her horse chores and working on my book. It’s paradise here.

Have to agree about the paradise part (politics aside). Where abouts in the valley are you?

I have to sleep, as much as I want to stay and chat with you all. May I ask a favor? I used to do this a while ago and found it helped us as well as my folks. could you send a little energy tonight to Heather and to Paul? Heather needs your support in her bereavement and paul needs “It’s okay” thoughts.

For those who don’t know, I’m a hospice nurse and I would sure appreciate it. The collective energy here may not make these fools in congress sit up and take notice (yet) but I have found that it helps my families.

thanks.
namaste
zen

Thanks for returning with these requests, zennie. I have missed them, and you!

Hillary has convinced me that the triangulating we criticized Bill for may have been largely her doing. She voted against the Cornyn amendment, setting us back on our heels — “what?!?” was the blogosphere’s reaction — and then went on five Sunday gabfests as her old warmongering self. It’s a delicate balancing act, and she is very good at it.

Does anybody remember the last time someone got to go on all five Sunday gabfests the same day?

So if we’re agreed that Hillary is the problem, what is the solution? We need to choose between the lesser of two evils and put her back into the WH anyway? We do our best to nominate a different candidate, when the one that most closely holds the same principles is “funny looking” and has very little chance in a general election? (I’m beginning to really take a shine to Kucinich! And I do not approve of “He looks funny” as an reason not to elect him. He looks a little geeky, but not really that bad at all.)

Have to agree about the paradise part (politics aside). Where abouts in the valley are you?

We’re in Stevensville. My sister has a horse property and 4 horses and lives here with my stepmom. She does computer work for the DOD at home. Not to worry – she’s one of us! We’re on River Bend Drive if that means anything to you.

Did she really get a fiver? What a media whore. I swear I’m so disappointed in her, I had such high hopes for having a woman in the Presidency, but I can’t trust her.

Zennurse, Hillary hasn’t done any Sunday shows at all. This is the first, and she wanted to show the media that she isn’t some stupid puppet. Hillary and her team orchestrated the MSM. Think about that.

Have to agree about the paradise part (politics aside). Where abouts in the valley are you?

We’re in Stevensville. My sister has a horse property and 4 horses and lives here with my stepmom. She does computer work for the DOD at home. Not to worry – she’s one of us! We’re on River Bend Drive if that means anything to you.

Not really, I only go down into the Bitterroot to hike in the mountains or go camping. Way too many Republicans down there.

Ann in AZ: Clinton’s attitude adjustment is coming from Iraq, itself. The repubs simply cannot leave 160,000 of our troops in Iraq as hostages to to cover george bush’s legacy-ass long enough for him to get out of town.

And neither can Hillary.

At this point the GOP is playing chicken with the dems:

“We’ll keep them there until you guys are willing to unilaterally take on the child-support for OUR knocking up Rosemary, and siring the bloody, rambunctious, little brat that is savaging Iraq, as we speak.”

It’s frustrating to all of us with enough smarts, and enough decency, to want to at least end our part in the shitmire.

I just want the democrats to keep up a good, consistent, media drumbeat about WHO pulled the trigger and started this misery, and about the fact that the republicans (so far) refuse to help them end our part in it, so that the people of what used to be Iraq can decide if an even bloodier civil conflict than the one that’s currently going on, will be more satisfying to them than dealing with the realities and compromises of partition. Because they damn sure aint going to make that decision as long as our military is occupying their country.

The big question looming is this:

Are the democrats craven enough and stupid enough to let bush and GOP dump the flaming bag of shit in THEIR laps, so they can go home and get out their chainsaws to start dismembering the dems for “losing Iraq”?

We’ll know the answer to that in a few months, as the primaries start to kick in. If, by then, none of the dems big three are seriously going after bush and the GOP with flamethrowers, for the clusterfuck, we’ll also know the fix is in.

Great post. I agree completely. There has been a very well financed reactionary campaign in this country against everthing good that has happened since the New Deal. There have been very nasty, very rich lunatics, and reactionary corporate interests with very deep pockets and very long time horizons working away at their campaign against reality for 50 years. They had some recent victories: congress in the 90s, control of corporate media, and others. But they have had some big failures too. Their proposed social security scam is one. There vision of endless war as US foreign policy is another, even though the costs of that failed experiment will be immense.

Whether Cheney-Bush regime is a victory or a defeat for them remains to be determined, I think. Their ideas are immoral, crazy and in realpolitic terms, have the disadvantage of always leading to failure. So, they have to lie and demagogue at an increasing rate, with ever more ridiculous premises, in order to keep the voters falling for their BS. Problem is, their screw-ups are just getting so dang big, they can’t lie and demagogue their way out of them. That seems to be their big problem now.

We must have a time horizon just as long as theirs. Never lose hope and never give up.

I guess I am repeating myself too much, but am looking forward to next election. I think Congress is the prize and where the action is. It is clear that Congress as a co-equal branch of government has been destroyed, and electing the right president cannot fix that. I think voters primed for taking things into their own hands, and they can realistically do that, with some progressive help, in many upcoming House and some Senate races.

Not sure what best to do in meantime, but absolutely necessary not to give up and give the voters a chance to send some real leaders to Congress next year.

The Smoot-Hawley candidate.. isolationist, protectionist, irrational… elect hiim and we’ll all be burning on Jenning Bryant’s cross of gold, in a great depression. I’m sorry to come off so strongly about Kucinich, but I think he is an irritating little populist demagogue and diversion for us, and, speaking personally, the one Dem candidate that could cause me not to vote at all. I’m a progressive but I also believe that the key to our country’s survival is free trade and multilateral engagement and I believe in being part of a global community, whatever the cost. He’s not my candidate.

Since we’re not supposed to talk about Major League Baseball any more, I will talk instead about Major League Fuckery. In tonight’s episode, an Army contracting officer is accused of taking almost ten million dollars in bribes.

And here’s an absurd part of the article:“It is particularly disturbing that while so many of our military personnel are fighting and dying in Iraq, a few have apparently taken the opportunity to unlawfully enrich themselves,” Charles W. Beardall, chief criminal investigator for the Pentagon inspector general, said in a statement. “Their greed is unconscionable, especially in the midst of our soldiers’ heroic actions.”

A few have taken the opportunity to unlawfully enrich themselves. Blackwater, anyone? How about the good folks at Halliburton?

To continue my venting at end of previous thread: our Very Serious People who fancy themselves to be sophisticated realpolitick Machiavellians, are actually an aristocracy of helpless dolts and pampered frauds who have apparently not read Machiavelli at all.

I notice in The Prince that Machiavelli wrote a whole chapter on “The Importance of Not Being Despised.” The opposition has messed up on that one. That should give us hope as well.

How many Americans think it is important for the US to stay in Iraq and finish the job that they had started?

The answer was 11%, eleven percent, wow.

The Host of the show is Drew Carey. I usually like Drew, but when that question came up and the girl wanted to say 22%, Drew wanted to almost force her to go much higher on the poll numbers. I know Drew is Republican, but his real whining desperation was obvious. Did any one see the show?

Well my classmates will be voting in 2009 or 2010. Get more of us interested.

It would be great to have a Young Democrats club at your high school. I will ask someone I “know” online if she can give some guidance there.
The best way I know to get interested is to realize that things politicians do really affect YOU.
In one of Molly Ivins’ books, I think it was Who Let the Dogs In, she wrote about breaking her glasses. OK, need a new pair. But no…even though she had the prescription, she had to get another eye exam because it had been more than 1 (or 2?) years since the last one. The old boys at the Lege passed that, and it benefits the eye doctors mainly. That is politics that affects you.
Another thing is student loans. HUGE affect on college students and vocational school students.

It is pretty red down in these parts, no doubt. We’re close by the river. She used to live in Missoula proper but she wanted a property so she could have horses and room, so it’s a tradeoff.

If you are in town next weekend and looking for a little entertainment, my friend Russ Nassett is playing at Sean Kelly’s in Missoula with his band. Two best guitar pickers in the Interior Northwest kicking up the best honky tonk music in Montana.

My 13 year old gets a pretty good dose of politics in our house.
Regarding answering the tough questions, one day he asked what the main difference between Republicans and Democrats is.
I told him the short version is that most Democrats care more about all people.

If you are in town next weekend and looking for a little entertainment, my friend Russ Nassett is playing at Sean Kelly’s in Missoula with his band. Two best guitar pickers in the Interior Northwest kicking up the best honky tonk music in Montana.

My 13 year old gets a pretty good dose of politics in our house.
Regarding answering the tough questions, one day he asked what the main difference between Republicans and Democrats is.
I told him the short version is that most Democrats care more about all people.

that’s a good shortcut. our 14 year old daughter is aware, in general, of these fairness issues but is not at all engaged – unlike Cassie, for example. for now her world is defined the social scene, soccer, fashion, boys, etc…she just started at Berkeley High, so that will open some perspectives for her.

I will stand up and speakout – as is my my right as a ciizen under our Constitution.

I won’t wait for our craven Senators to find their verterbrae long enough to stand with us.

Moveon speaks for me – as does TeddySanFran.

In a posting today at Salon, Glen Greenwald argued that it isn’t a lack of spine but rather class identification that propels Bush-enabling Democrats to vote the way that they do. As exhibit A, he offers Diane Feinstein who has just been re-elected and probably will never run again. Economically, politically, and socially, she has nothing to fear. She simply identifies with the beltway crowd and not the party’s base. (I’m not completely convinced, e.g., I don’t see Feinstein as all that typical.)

My 13 year old gets a pretty good dose of politics in our house.
Regarding answering the tough questions, one day he asked what the main difference between Republicans and Democrats is.
I told him the short version is that most Democrats care more about all people.

that’s a good shortcut. our 14 year old daughter is aware, in general, of these fairness issues but is not at all engaged – unlike Cassie, for example. for now her world is defined the social scene, soccer, fashion, boys, etc…she just started at Berkeley High, so that will open some perspectives for her.

My 13 yr old is knowledgeable since we play liberal talk radio a few hours a day, but not very interested.

I will stand up and speakout – as is my my right as a ciizen under our Constitution.

I won’t wait for our craven Senators to find their verterbrae long enough to stand with us.

Moveon speaks for me – as does TeddySanFran.

In a posting today at Salon, Glen Greenwald argued that it isn’t a lack of spine but rather class identification that propels Bush-enabling Democrats to vote the way that they do. As exhibit A, he offers Diane Feinstein who has just been re-elected and probably will never run again. Economically, politically, and socially, she has nothing to fear. She simply identifies with the beltway crowd and not the party’s base. (I’m not completely convinced, e.g., I don’t see Feinstein as all that typical.)

My 13 year old gets a pretty good dose of politics in our house.
Regarding answering the tough questions, one day he asked what the main difference between Republicans and Democrats is.
I told him the short version is that most Democrats care more about all people.

In Alaska, the short version is “Both parties hope to pave the state as soon as possible, but the GOP wants it to be done by non-union paving crews, the Dems usually – unless bribed enough – want unions involved…”

that’s a good shortcut. our 14 year old daughter is aware, in general, of these fairness issues but is not at all engaged – unlike Cassie, for example. for now her world is defined the social scene, soccer, fashion, boys, etc…she just started at Berkeley High, so that will open some perspectives for her.

My 13 yr old is knowledgeable since we play liberal talk radio a few hours a day, but not very interested.

I think at that age, most kids do not see how any of it really relates to them or their lives. Also they do not believe that they can have any impact (we do a great job in this society of convincing our children that they are powerless and irrelevant). That is one of the things that makes Cassie special.

I will stand up and speakout – as is my my right as a ciizen under our Constitution.

I won’t wait for our craven Senators to find their verterbrae long enough to stand with us.

Moveon speaks for me – as does TeddySanFran.

In a posting today at Salon, Glen Greenwald argued that it isn’t a lack of spine but rather class identification that propels Bush-enabling Democrats to vote the way that they do. As exhibit A, he offers Diane Feinstein who has just been re-elected and probably will never run again. Economically, politically, and socially, she has nothing to fear. She simply identifies with the beltway crowd and not the party’s base. (I’m not completely convinced, e.g., I don’t see Feinstein as all that typical.)

Newsflash, folks. She’s not trying to lock up the nomination here. She’s trying to lock up the money. The polls mean nothing right now. The New Hampshire primary has bucked the polls in the last two election cycles (McCain in 2000 and Kerry in 2004), and nobody else in the country really starts paying attention until then. What she’s trying to do is keep people from sending money to the other candidates, thereby forcing them to drop out. I don’t think she can really hurt Obama, but there’s a good chance she can strangle the Richardson and Edwards campaigns.

As for the aura of inevitability that she’s trying to create, I don’t think that’s going to work for her, either. I think she’s going to lead the polls right into New Hampshire, at which point the voters are going to say, “Aw, HELL no!”

My 13 yr old is knowledgeable since we play liberal talk radio a few hours a day, but not very interested.

I think at that age, most kids do not see how any of it really relates to them or their lives. Also they do not believe that they can have any impact (we do a great job in this society of convincing our children that they are powerless and irrelevant). That is one of the things that makes Cassie special.

My son is now objecting to the TV show at school and may start a petition to have the district switch to something else. Not likely it would pass, but I’d like to see him try.

Well, James is a bit different. He’s not into the social stuff that other kids his age are into.
We listen to NPR for the half-hour to 45 minutes on the way to school and on the way home.
He also adores Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert.
Since there was no school last Wednesday, he was home and when I returned from work he was on the couch watching Bush’s speech.

And here’s an absurd part of the article:“It is particularly disturbing that while so many of our military personnel are fighting and dying in Iraq, a few have apparently taken the opportunity to unlawfully enrich themselves,” Charles W. Beardall, chief criminal investigator for the Pentagon inspector general, said in a statement. “Their greed is unconscionable, especially in the midst of our soldiers’ heroic actions.”

A few have taken the opportunity to unlawfully enrich themselves. Blackwater, anyone? How about the good folks at Halliburton?

I think at that age, most kids do not see how any of it really relates to them or their lives. Also they do not believe that they can have any impact (we do a great job in this society of convincing our children that they are powerless and irrelevant). That is one of the things that makes Cassie special.

My son is now objecting to the TV show at school and may start a petition to have the district switch to something else. Not likely it would pass, but I’d like to see him try.

That’s a good start. This is how they learn that they can make a difference. He is very lucky to have a smart and engaged mother who supports him in this. 8-)

My 13 year old gets a pretty good dose of politics in our house.
Regarding answering the tough questions, one day he asked what the main difference between Republicans and Democrats is.
I told him the short version is that most Democrats care more about all people.

If you are in town next weekend and looking for a little entertainment, my friend Russ Nassett is playing at Sean Kelly’s in Missoula with his band. Two best guitar pickers in the Interior Northwest kicking up the best honky tonk music in Montana.

Stupid girls is going on the washingtonpost blog tomorrow, just got off the phone with jose Vargas. Apparently if you are a regular person and its your birthday and your political party does something really-ass stupid and you get pissed so that without any video training even though you never made a political video in your life but you send it to jane after a long day and to your surprise she opens it, and writes back with suggestions and you edit it for another long day and then she posts it and you get 2000 hits in 24 hours–well apparently THEN the post contacts you and wants to know what color subaru you drive. I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and hope I haven’t advertised myself right out of a job, since I’ll apparently never be hired by a republican patient again….can anyone say anything comforting? I just wanted to make a statement and have it be heard, and now the echo is hurting my ears. I think i’m proud of myself, but it’s a very braced kind of proud…

OT: Can someone please tell me why President Ahmadinejad can’t go to Ground Zero? Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s an asshole, but why shouldn’t he be able to just hop in a cab and go there just like everyone else? And don’t give me any crap about security. If they can secure it for Bush, they can secure it for him.

Stupid girls is going on the washingtonpost blog tomorrow, just got off the phone with jose Vargas. Apparently if you are a regular person and its your birthday and your political party does something really-ass stupid and you get pissed so that without any video training even though you never made a political video in your life but you send it to jane after a long day and to your surprise she opens it, and writes back with suggestions and you edit it for another long day and then she posts it and you get 2000 hits in 24 hours–well apparently THEN the post contacts you and wants to know what color subaru you drive. I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and hope I haven’t advertised myself right out of a job, since I’ll apparently never be hired by a republican patient again….can anyone say anything comforting? I just wanted to make a statement and have it be heard, and now the echo is hurting my ears. I think i’m proud of myself, but it’s a very braced kind of proud…

woohoo! standing on chair clapping like the little guy in the pink section

Well, thanks Loo Hoo. Your support is always appreciated.
James and I are pretty good buds.
The other day in the mall, after I bought him some new school pants, he had his arm around my shoulder as we walked to the car.
The older people gave us these sweet smiles.

OT: Can someone please tell me why President Ahmadinejad can’t go to Ground Zero? Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s an asshole, but why shouldn’t he be able to just hop in a cab and go there just like everyone else? And don’t give me any crap about security. If they can secure it for Bush, they can secure it for him.

Stupid girls is going on the washingtonpost blog tomorrow, just got off the phone with jose Vargas. Apparently if you are a regular person and its your birthday and your political party does something really-ass stupid and you get pissed so that without any video training even though you never made a political video in your life but you send it to jane after a long day and to your surprise she opens it, and writes back with suggestions and you edit it for another long day and then she posts it and you get 2000 hits in 24 hours–well apparently THEN the post contacts you and wants to know what color subaru you drive. I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and hope I haven’t advertised myself right out of a job, since I’ll apparently never be hired by a republican patient again….can anyone say anything comforting? I just wanted to make a statement and have it be heard, and now the echo is hurting my ears. I think i’m proud of myself, but it’s a very braced kind of proud…

Exhale. Have fun with it. Don’t worry. You will be back at work soon enough.

That’s fabulous! I can see why that would be a little intimidating, but it IS a good thing to have the traditional media see what we think. Even if the tm doesn’t get it, anyone who watches the video will. That’s what counts.

My 18 year old says my Facebook page is okay but would be a lot better if I removed all that icky politcal stuff.

sigh

My girls are the same way, although my older daughter now is taking a class so she asks questions. It’s sad, since we’re so into it. I remember working for McGovern at their ages… Can’t force it, though.

Yeah, Shaheen is fairly middle of the road. She won the Guv’s seat three times(NH has a 2 year term).

She never fully dealt with the major issue in the state, which is school funding.

She lost in a squeaker to Johnny Boy Sununu.(The sketchy 2002 election that saw Rove’s minions making illegal calls to Dems GOTV effort-phone jamming scandal)

Seems like she was one of the masses that got on board the Endless War for Endless Peace Express.

But, she’s better than both Sununu and Gregg.

She gets a C .

-GSD

That was pretty much my general impression from what I’ve read. Not much of a stretch to be better than Sununu and Gregg, alas. It’ really looks like she’ll be a shoo-in. Another Dem Senator the progressives will be dealing with for quite some time.

OT: Can someone please tell me why President Ahmadinejad can’t go to Ground Zero? Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s an asshole, but why shouldn’t he be able to just hop in a cab and go there just like everyone else? And don’t give me any crap about security. If they can secure it for Bush, they can secure it for him.

I have to agree. He is not my favorite person, but it seems as though he is trying to make a good will gesture here. I really think we need as a country to move back away from all this anti-Muslim sentiment and tell the neocons to STFU about the so-called “Great Iranian Menace”.

Stupid girls is going on the washingtonpost blog tomorrow, just got off the phone with jose Vargas. Apparently if you are a regular person and its your birthday and your political party does something really-ass stupid and you get pissed so that without any video training even though you never made a political video in your life but you send it to jane after a long day and to your surprise she opens it, and writes back with suggestions and you edit it for another long day and then she posts it and you get 2000 hits in 24 hours–well apparently THEN the post contacts you and wants to know what color subaru you drive. I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and hope I haven’t advertised myself right out of a job, since I’ll apparently never be hired by a republican patient again….can anyone say anything comforting? I just wanted to make a statement and have it be heard, and now the echo is hurting my ears. I think i’m proud of myself, but it’s a very braced kind of proud…

Loo Hoo, the October B-day camping is going to be at San Clemente. Maybe you can meet us for the day. I’ll email you the details.
Suzanne, I wished you were closer and could join us. :(
AND,
On that note, this pup’s going to bed to read.
I’m glad people are feeling a little better here.
Hugs to all.

My 13 yr old is knowledgeable since we play liberal talk radio a few hours a day, but not very interested.

I think at that age, most kids do not see how any of it really relates to them or their lives. Also they do not believe that they can have any impact (we do a great job in this society of convincing our children that they are powerless and irrelevant). That is one of the things that makes Cassie special.

I must confess, at 38 I didn’t care about politics until Bush forced me to vote for the first time.

Stupid girls is going on the washingtonpost blog tomorrow, just got off the phone with jose Vargas. Apparently if you are a regular person and its your birthday and your political party does something really-ass stupid and you get pissed so that without any video training even though you never made a political video in your life but you send it to jane after a long day and to your surprise she opens it, and writes back with suggestions and you edit it for another long day and then she posts it and you get 2000 hits in 24 hours–well apparently THEN the post contacts you and wants to know what color subaru you drive. I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and hope I haven’t advertised myself right out of a job, since I’ll apparently never be hired by a republican patient again….can anyone say anything comforting? I just wanted to make a statement and have it be heard, and now the echo is hurting my ears. I think i’m proud of myself, but it’s a very braced kind of proud…

Is TSF still around? He’s the local expert re: the WaPo blogs. Otherwise, enjoy the moment!, is about all of the advice that comes to mind right now.

Stupid girls is going on the washingtonpost blog tomorrow, just got off the phone with jose Vargas. Apparently if you are a regular person and its your birthday and your political party does something really-ass stupid and you get pissed so that without any video training even though you never made a political video in your life but you send it to jane after a long day and to your surprise she opens it, and writes back with suggestions and you edit it for another long day and then she posts it and you get 2000 hits in 24 hours–well apparently THEN the post contacts you and wants to know what color subaru you drive. I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and hope I haven’t advertised myself right out of a job, since I’ll apparently never be hired by a republican patient again….can anyone say anything comforting? I just wanted to make a statement and have it be heard, and now the echo is hurting my ears. I think i’m proud of myself, but it’s a very braced kind of proud…

’cause Iran-shrub is the great tehranrist bogeyman of the moment.. his evil visage is what will be used to justify shrub’s next war… just as Saddam (Iraq-shrub) once was… notwithstanding that all three of these people (shrub, Iran-shrub and Iraq-shrub) at various points warred with (and failed to capture or defeat) the only real tehranrist involved (OBL).

OT: Can someone please tell me why President Ahmadinejad can’t go to Ground Zero? Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s an asshole, but why shouldn’t he be able to just hop in a cab and go there just like everyone else? And don’t give me any crap about security. If they can secure it for Bush, they can secure it for him.

The stupid 60 Minutes interrogator couldn’t really make the case, interviewing him, why he couldn’t go, except to say that it’s where lots of Americans died from a terror attack and Iran is a sponsor of terror.

The way I figure it, BushCheneyCo are trying to replace one letter (N for Q) in the name of the country responsible for 9/11, in the minds of the 29%ers.

And it might work. That was a brutal 60M interview, although the Iranian held his own.

OT: Can someone please tell me why President Ahmadinejad can’t go to Ground Zero? Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s an asshole, but why shouldn’t he be able to just hop in a cab and go there just like everyone else? And don’t give me any crap about security. If they can secure it for Bush, they can secure it for him.

The stupid 60 Minutes interrogator couldn’t really make the case, interviewing him, why he couldn’t go, except to say that it’s where lots of Americans died from a terror attack and Iran is a sponsor of terror.

The way I figure it, BushCheneyCo are trying to replace one letter (N for Q) in the name of the country responsible for 9/11, in the minds of the 29%ers.

And it might work. That was a brutal 60M interview, although the Iranian held his own.

I loved his point about how George Boosh does not follow the teachings of Jesus in his acts.

OT: Can someone please tell me why President Ahmadinejad can’t go to Ground Zero? Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s an asshole, but why shouldn’t he be able to just hop in a cab and go there just like everyone else? And don’t give me any crap about security. If they can secure it for Bush, they can secure it for him.

Cuz last night he stood in front of a banner saying Death to America.
And he doesn’t believe in the Holocaust and says so at every opportunity.

I’d still let him go, though if I were in charge. Just for the theatrics.

Stupid girls is going on the washingtonpost blog tomorrow, just got off the phone with jose Vargas. Apparently if you are a regular person and its your birthday and your political party does something really-ass stupid and you get pissed so that without any video training even though you never made a political video in your life but you send it to jane after a long day and to your surprise she opens it, and writes back with suggestions and you edit it for another long day and then she posts it and you get 2000 hits in 24 hours–well apparently THEN the post contacts you and wants to know what color subaru you drive. I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and hope I haven’t advertised myself right out of a job, since I’ll apparently never be hired by a republican patient again….can anyone say anything comforting? I just wanted to make a statement and have it be heard, and now the echo is hurting my ears. I think i’m proud of myself, but it’s a very braced kind of proud…

I hate to be a party pooper but some one interpreted the stats incorrectly on the stupid girls video. Gender and vote are independent. P value = 0.31 or 0.50 depending on how you do the test. Between 30% and 50% chance you would see that result assuming gender made no difference in how you voted.

Loo Hoo, the October B-day camping is going to be at San Clemente. Maybe you can meet us for the day. I’ll email you the details.
Suzanne, I wished you were closer and could join us. :(
AND,
On that note, this pup’s going to bed to read.
I’m glad people are feeling a little better here.
Hugs to all.

Night, demi. Sleep well and forget about this horrible week. It can only get better.

Betsy and Suz – My mom has always been an active liberal and when I was a teen I was not engaged in politics, but in my heart I was a liberal too. It may take a while, but the influence your kids are getting now will pay off later. Parents have much more influence over their kids’ worldview than they are aware of at the time.

Betsy and Suz – My mom has always been an active liberal and when I was a teen I was not engaged in politics, but in my heart I was a liberal too. It may take a while, but the influence your kids are getting now will pay off later. Parents have much more influence over their kids’ worldview than they are aware of at the time.

that’s my big worry, alicia – i was a lifelong conservative republican when i was a rearing my young.

Stupid girls is going on the washingtonpost blog tomorrow, just got off the phone with jose Vargas. Apparently if you are a regular person and its your birthday and your political party does something really-ass stupid and you get pissed so that without any video training even though you never made a political video in your life but you send it to jane after a long day and to your surprise she opens it, and writes back with suggestions and you edit it for another long day and then she posts it and you get 2000 hits in 24 hours–well apparently THEN the post contacts you and wants to know what color subaru you drive. I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and hope I haven’t advertised myself right out of a job, since I’ll apparently never be hired by a republican patient again….can anyone say anything comforting? I just wanted to make a statement and have it be heard, and now the echo is hurting my ears. I think i’m proud of myself, but it’s a very braced kind of proud…

Betsy and Suz – My mom has always been an active liberal and when I was a teen I was not engaged in politics, but in my heart I was a liberal too. It may take a while, but the influence your kids are getting now will pay off later. Parents have much more influence over their kids’ worldview than they are aware of at the time.

that’s my big worry, alicia – i was a lifelong conservative republican when i was a rearing my young.

2 weeks. I’m spending them with my sister in Montana. I’ll actually be working on my book nonstop, which I can’t do at home because of my job and my 3 kids, so it’s still a vacation – my mama cooks for me!

2 weeks. I’m spending them with my sister in Montana. I’ll actually be working on my book nonstop, which I can’t do at home because of my job and my 3 kids, so it’s still a vacation – my mama cooks for me!

Oh, that is so great — good for you, even though you’ll be working on your book you’re still enjoying a change of scenery and a bit of pampering :-)

NEW YORK — Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana will endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential bid on Monday, sources close to both lawmakers say.

A colleague of Clinton’s on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Bayh actively pursued a possible presidential bid until late last year, when he dropped out of the race amid evidence that Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois were building formidable campaign organizations.

Clinton did two hours of interviews by remote from a furnished barn in her back yard in Chappaqua, N.Y., part of an aggressive media blitz in the week after she offered up her plan for universal health-care coverage. Her campaign expressed pride that she had driven the news agenda, forcing even President Bush to talk about health insurance.

Her trip through the Sunday gantlet was designed to solidify the impression that Clinton is strong, indomitable and all but inevitable as the Democratic nominee and next president.

They also snubbed AARP, didn’t they? that base is getting very narrow. But even white bigots have elderly parents, so, getting very narrow indeed.

Need to organize a Save the Children sponsored debate where there will be an SCHIP question, so they can snub that too.

SCHIP is going to happen this week. Conference agreement gets released tomorrow, House is supposed to vote on it on Tuesday, Senate not long after that. Of course, Bush will probably wait the full ten days before he vetoes it, out of spite, so that the states will run out of oney on the 30th. My God, what is wrong with that man?

yes it definitely is. Although the last two times I left the country I wasn’t a firepup yet — might have a bit of withdrawal there ;-) but we’ll be pretty busy running around the north of England, and Edinburgh, and that’ll keep me happy.

We will fight them on the land.
We will fight them at sea.
We will fight them in the air.
We will fight them on the cable.
We will fight them on the airwaves.
We will fight them at the newsstands.
We will fight them in the bookstores.
We will fight them through the innertoobz.
We will fight them in cyberspace.

We will fight them on the land.
We will fight them at sea.
We will fight them in the air.
We will fight them on the cable.
We will fight them on the airwaves.
We will fight them at the newsstands.
We will fight them in the bookstores.
We will fight them through the innertoobz.
We will fight them in cyberspace.

The best chance we have at restoring what the fascists have built is in this next presidential cycle. If we can’t get a candidate on the record against these fundamental abuses, then we have no hope for generations.

All we have to do is demand more. Even if that means looking seriously at “second-tier” candidates that are not harmonizing with the establishment, that don’t fit the MSM’s narrative about who will be the next nominee.

As much as I would like to believe in Obama or Clinton, I can’t help but get the feeling at the end of the day they aren’t going to make a proper stand.

We need a president who can destroy the ring he is going to inheiret from Bu$#! . Don’t ask me why, and I am living in Thailand so I don’t catch much American T.V., but am I silly to think John Edwards could do such a thing?

Those of us who think that nominating Hillary Clinton will be the greatest example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in the existence of the phrase, will be watching and hoping that the candidacy for someone who simply can’t be elected, will start to implode.

I too, was a supporter of hers. I was delighted when she won the senate seat.

And now, I’m appalled. She’s jumped in and out of bed with bush and the warbots like a $5 hooker.

I had no idea she was this cyinical and unprincipled.

Worse, I had no idea she was so politically stupid. She’s abandoned her rock-solid natural base, the progressive wing of the party, to suck up to the very people who’ve dragged us into this misery, and whom will do anything to sustain it, rather than have to admit what a fuckup it was.

And she’s doing it at a time when events in Iraq are moving to the point that no amount of spin, no amount of GOP shitspeak, will hide the reality of what bush and his supporters have created.

What a wizard!

And what political acumen to triangulate rightward, when not 1% of the people who voted for bush in either of the last two elections, will vote for HER. They hate her with a white-hot hatred. There could be three minute clips of her shining Laura Bush’s shoes and mopping the floors at the Crawford ranch, airing on Fauxnews, and she couldn’t get elected dogcatcher, with the votes she’d get from registered republicans.

The independents are not much better, for her. Nor, even, conservative democrats.

Her candidacy is a disaster waiting to happen, for our side, and a Rovian wet dream, for the republicans. That’s why we’ve heard so little criticism of her from them, other than the de riguer slap, en passant, as they go after Edwards and Obama.

Especially, Edwards, whom our corporate lords view with something akin to Scrooge McDuck peeing his feathers as the Beagle Boys head for his money vault.

Edwards isn’t perfect, and he and Elizabeth just flat brain-farted on their dissing of MoveOn, for their play on words of Petrolus’ name (thank you, Whitehouse.org…:o)) but he’s the best of the lot, IMHO, and if you want to see some pre-emptive swiftboating during the PRIMARY races, keep your eye on what the repubs will try to do to HIS candidacy, vs. Hillary’s.

As always, the caveat on ALL of the democrats is:

Will they let bush and the GOP write them into their political will, as idiot-heirs of the cluster d’phuque?

Repeatedly, and flatly, with no Clintonesque farting and tapdancing, that his 2002 vote to authorize was a mistake. Not a misjudgement; not misinformed (which they all were)…just WRONG. BTW, sooner or later, Clinton is going to HAVE to do this, and won’t she look principled, as it’s being shoved down her throat?

His first day in office, he will close the prison at Guantanamo.

The Insurance companies do not need to be IN on the healh care debates, as Hillary wants them to be. Edwards says, straight-up, that they need to be OUT of the equation.

He, too, talks about keeping troops in the mid-east, but he wants them in Kuwait, and possibly, the Kurdish north. Both options are more sensible and more realistic than keeping a reduced number in Iraq, although none of the major candidates, except Richardson, has opted for a complete “out, now.” plan, that I know of.

Access to pre-school for EVERY child.

Edwards catches hell for being a personal-injury lawyer.

Right. I’m really turned off by the fact that he’s made money in lawsuits on behalf of people who’ve been injured by corporate negiligence.

As for Clinton, all we need to do is keep forcing her to talk about Iraq, because every time she opens her mouth on that subject, she sounds very much like george bush.

And with those 170,000 troops basically serving as hostages to cover junior’s legacy-ass in Iraq, and with that $2.5 billion dollars a week disappearing into the mesopotamian sand (and Blackwater and KBR’s coffers), in the near future, she’s gonna have to fish or cut bait. :o)

I’d call for DiFi’s resignation, but, unfortunately, we have a rethug governor, and I think I know who he’d appoint. And that’s just plain scary to contemplate.. so, unfortunately, we have DiFi. Not representing us.

Remember when California was known as all Liberal and wacky out there?

What happened? Did Big Money decide they had to get a handle on that or did the people change?

… so what possible excuse can Hillary have for this morning. … Just when you think it’s safe to go back…

Hillary has convinced me that the triangulating we criticized Bill for may have been largely her doing. … and then went on five Sunday gabfests as her old warmongering self. It’s a delicate balancing act, and she is very good at it.

Does anybody remember the last time someone got to go on all five Sunday gabfests the same day?

What you’re seeing is the cold dead hand of American Conservatism reaching out of the crypt and grabbing hold of a corner of the large tapestry of the Democratic Party and pulling us down to the darkness. Hillary is a willing tuggee.

Too bad we can’t just cut her loose and let her go with ‘em. But, she wants it all.